USC’s road through 2026 already looks loaded with land mines, and the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, presented by USA TODAY Sports, shows just how many of them are sitting inside the top 25. Five of the Trojans’ opponents cracked the preseason rankings, a reminder that Lincoln Riley’s team is going to be tested from the jump.
The highest-ranked USC opponent is Ohio State at No. 1.
The Buckeyes are again carrying massive expectations, and that starts with Jeremiah Smith, who is widely viewed as the best player in the country. Ohio State also has to replace Carnell Tate and a number of defensive starters, but the roster still looks overflowing with talent.
Julian Sayin, last year’s Heisman finalist, will have a wide receiver room that remains loaded, and the Buckeyes have the kind of resources to chase Big Ten supremacy right away.
Right behind them is Oregon at No. 2, and the Ducks are being framed as the most complete team in the country from top to bottom. Dan Lanning believes this group has championship potential, and quarterback Dante Moore came back with that exact goal in mind. The expectation is that both sides of the ball will be better than they were a year ago, which makes Oregon a problem for just about everybody on the schedule.
Indiana comes in at No. 6, giving USC another ranked opponent with real bite. Curt Cignetti has another experienced roster, even after the Hoosiers lost a number of talented starters and their starting quarterback to the draft.
Still, the defense has enough firepower to create chaos, especially up front. Josh Hoover arrives as a transfer quarterback with a gunslinger’s mentality, and he’ll have weapons in Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh as Indiana tries to defend its title.
Penn State checks in at No. 17, though the program will look different without James Franklin. The optimism now centers on Matt Campbell and Rocco Becht, with Campbell seen as a coach who can reset the tone and push the Nittany Lions back toward winning football.
Becht, meanwhile, will have to show he can handle Big Ten competition. With talent on the roster and a schedule that sets up well, Penn State could make things interesting in Year 1 of the Campbell era.
Washington rounds out the USC opponents in the poll at No. 19.
The Huskies took a hit on offense, but Demon Williams Jr. gives them a quarterback who can cover up some of those losses. Another year of experience for the dual-threat passer could make a difference, and if Washington can find a way to win on the road, the College Football Playoff conversation could open up.
For that to happen, though, the Huskies will need to handle business against USC.
In Other News...
USC Just Lost A Crucial Piece Up Front Before The Season
USC took a hit up front this week when Lincoln Riley said projected starting center Kilian O'Connor will be sidelined for the 2026 season after suffering an injury in practice. A fifth-year senior and former walk-on, O'Connor had worked his way into a key role for the Trojans and had already started several games, making him one of the more important stability pieces on the interior of the offensive line.
The injury came on a non-contact play, and O'Connor is set to undergo surgery as USC now has to sort out its next move at center. His absence leaves a notable gap for a line that was counting on his experience, especially given his history of knee issues, and it puts the spotlight on Tobias Raymond as the most immediate option to absorb those snaps. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Receiver Buzz Is Growing As One Key Job Stays Open
The Bloom Center at USC officially opened with a ribbon-cutting event for donors and invite-only guests, giving the program a fresh showcase as fall camp rolls on behind the scenes. On the field, the Trojans went through a routine fifth practice with no major lineup changes, but the wide receiver room continued to stand out because of its sheer talent and depth, including several true freshmen who are already making that group look deeper than expected.
Even with the receiver buzz building, one special teams spot remains unsettled. The kick return job is still being evaluated, and multiple players have gotten work there as the staff keeps sorting out who best fits the role. It is another small but important reminder that USC is still in the stage where competition is alive across the roster, even as certain position groups begin to separate themselves. [Read more 🡒]
USC WR Terrell Anderson Revealed The Toughest Cover Test Of His Career
Adjusting to USC has meant more than learning a new playbook for Terrell Anderson. The former North Carolina State receiver has been talking about the early stretch of his transition with the Trojans, and the part that seems to have sharpened him most is the daily work against USCs secondary. That side of practice has forced him to get used to different looks, different speed, and the kind of competition that can make a transfer feel at home faster than any classroom session.
Anderson also pointed to the value of those college matchups when asked about the toughest cover tests of his career, and the answer says plenty about the level of competition he has already faced. As USC looks ahead to a 2026 slate that will bring more demanding defensive assignments, his perspective is a reminder that development often happens long before Saturdays arrive. For a wideout trying to settle in, those repeated battles can shape both confidence and timing in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]